Folding table and seat



March 27, 1934. J. VAGHI FOLDING TABLE AND SEAT Filed NOV- 2 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l F??? gwuentov March 27, 1934.

J. VAGHI 1,952,737

FOLDING TABLE AND SEAT Filed NOV- 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ifll" w ll! Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE FOLDING TABLE AND SEAT Joseph Vaghi, Bethel, Conn. Application November 28, 1930, Serial No. 498,578 Claims. (01. 155-124) This invention relates to a combination table and seats and has for an object to provide a combined table and seat construction which may be folded and nested into a small space so as to be 5 easily carried.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a construction of this type which may be easily set up in condition for use and which when so set up will be strong and rigid in construction.

Another object is to provide a construction which after use can be easily taken down, disassembled and packed in a carrying case which forms one of the elements of the device when set up, so that there are no extra elements which must be carried.

With the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the combination device set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the table top portion substantially on line 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the table portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail section and elevation showing the means of supporting the table.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on line 77 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the seat portions set up and with the table removed.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one end portion of a seat showing how it may be collapsed.

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of the means for connecting the two seats.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view showing the carrying case section in open position with the seats folded and placed therein; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are side and end elevations respectively of the carrying case closed for carrying from place to place.

This invention relates more particularly to a combination structure including a table and seats which may be easily carried from place to place in a collapsed condition for use on picnics,

camping and lawn parties and the like, and may be easily and quickly set up for use and easily collapsed and folded into a small space for transportation. The combined structure includes two foldable seats which may be detachably connected together and a table portion which may be mounted at a higher level and between the two seats, and which table. portion is so constructed as to form a carrying case for the two seats when folded. The two seats are indicated at 14 of any suitable construction, preferabYy comprising any suitable number of longitudinal wooden bars 15. A pair of legs 16 is pivoted to each set of bars adjacent their opposite ends as indicated at 17 by any suitable means such as a bolt which may also comprise the means for securing the bars together, and as the legs may extend between adjacent bars they provide means for holding the bars in a somewhat separated relation so that less material is required for a given width of seat. The legs of each pair may be strengthened by a connecting cross bar 18 which also may be adapted to seat in the notch 19 in a brace 20 pivoted between a pair of the bars asindicated at 21. When the legs and braces are positioned as in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be evident the legs are very rigidly braced to form a strong rigid support for the seats.

Also pivoted to each seat is a pair of cross bars 22, there being one of these bars adjacent each end of the seat, and they may be pivoted to one of the top bars 15 by any suitable means as a pivot bolt 23, so that after the legs 16 and braces 20 are folded against the under sides of the seat, this bar can also be folded into a position at the under side of and extending longitudinally of the seat as indicated in Fig. 11. When these bars are swung to a lateral position as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, their free ends may be connected by detachable securing means shown more specifically in Figs. 8 and 10. That is, the free end of each bar 22 may have a longitudinal slot or recess 24 one of which is adapted to receive a bolt 25 spaced from the end of the other member, and the notch 24 in the other bar may receive a bolt 26 on the first bar carrying a thumb nut 27. Thus, by placing the two ends together with the two bolts 25 and 26 in the notches 24 and then tightening the thumb nuts, the two bars are rigidly connected together and the two seats are thus rigidly connected together forming a very rigid structure which is not easily overturned. The two seats may be easily disconnected by merely unscrewing the thumb nuts 27.

After the two seats are thus assembled, the table portion may be mounted in position. This table portion is composed of two box-like sections closed on five sides and open on one side, that is, they each comprise a top wall 28 and peripheral side and end walls 29, 30 and 31. Two of the side walls are hinged together at 32 to permit the twosectlons to swing open or closed. When open the two top walls 28 are in alignment and in the same plane as shown in Fig. 4 and form the top of a table. Pivotedto each of the outer side walls 29 and on the inside thereof are table legs 33, the pivot being shown at 34. These legs are adapted to fold into the sections and lie adjacent the inner surface of the side walls as indicated in Fig. 11, and a brace 35 is pivoted at 36 to one of these legs and at its opposite end has a reduced portion 3'? to seat in a notch in the other leg and braceit in the upright position. The legs at the lower ends are tapered as shown at 38 to seat in U-shaped blocks or straps 39 carried by the seat connecting bars 22. Thus, after the seats have been assembled as described and the table set up as shown in Fig. 4, the lower ends of legs 33 may be seated in the tapered straps 39 by which they will be securely and rigidly held. Thus, the table is rigidly supported on the connected cross bars 22 and will be held rigid and level and there will be no necessity for trying to find a firm footing for it on the ground. Furthermore, the table is always supported at the proper height and in proper relation to the two seats 14.

After use the entire device may be easily disassembled and folded into a small space for carrying. Thus, the table is first lifted to remove the legs 33 from the straps 39. Then the legs 33 can be folded into the sections of the top as indicated in Fig. 11. Then the two seats may be disconnected by loosening the thum nuts 2'7 after which the two bars 22 may be separated and then folded against the under sides of the seats together with the legs 16 and braces 20. These folded seats may then be placed one in each section of thetable top portion as shown in Fig. 11 after which these two portions may be folded together about the hinges 32 to provide a closed carrying case as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. It may then be carried in the manner of a suitcase or other baggage by means of a handle 40, after the two sections have been secured and locked together by any suitable looks or clasps 41 similar to those used on suitcases or similar baggage. In order to make a tight container to keep out dust and dirt the edges of the walls 29, 30 and 31 of one section of the casing may be grooved as indicated at 42, Fig. 7 and the similar edges of the other section provided with a tongue 43 to fit in this groove and make a tight joint.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that this comprises a very simple construction which may be easily carried from place to place and requires very little room; that it can be very easily and quickly set up to provide a strong and rigid combination of table and chair construction, and that when through using, the whole construction can be easily and quickly disassembled and refolded and packed in a small space.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: g

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of seat members, supporting legs for the seat members, means hinging the legs to the seat members to fold thereagainst, connecting bars pivoted to the seat members to fold thereagainst and to be moved to a lateral position, detachable means connecting said bars to secure the seats together in spaced relation, a table top, downwardly extending legs secured to said top, and means on said connecting bars to engage said latter legs to support the top.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of seat members, supporting legs for the seat members, means hinging the legs to the seat members to fold thereagainst, connecting bars pivoted to the seat members to fold thereagainst and to be moved to a lateral position, detachable means connecting said bars to secure the seats together in spaced relation, a table top comprising two hinged sections having downwardly extending side walls adapted to form with the top walls a container, downwardly extended legs hinged to the top to fold to positions within the side walls, and means on the connecting bars to engage the latter legs to support the top, the container being adapted to receive the seat members when in folded condition.

3. In a device of the character described, a table comprising two sections each having a top 4 walland downwardly extending side walls around the periphery thereof, said sections being pivoted together to fold with the side walls edge to edge to form a container, legs pivoted to the sections to fold into them and be shifted to upright supporting position, spaced seats, detachable means connecting the seats, and means carried by the connecting means to engage the lower ends of said legs to support the table.

4. In a device of the character described, a table comprising two sections each having a top wall and downwardly extending side walls around the periphery thereof, said sections being pivoted together to fold with the side walls edge to edge to form a container, legs pivoted to the sections to fold into them and be shifted to upright supporting position, a pair of spaced seats, legs pivoted to the seats to fold against them, connecting bars hinged to and adapted to fold against the seats and movable to a lateral position between them, means to detachably connect said bars, and means on said bars to secure the table legs to support the table, said top sections being capable of receiving said seats when infolded condition.

5. In a device of the character describedja table comprising two sections each having a top wall and downwardly extending side walls around the periphery thereof, said sections being pivoted together to fold with the side walls edge to edge to form a container, a leg pivoted to the outer peripheral wall of each section adjacent each end, said legs adapted to be folded into the sections and to be shifted to upright supporting position, a brace pivoted to one of said legs and adapted to be folded with the leg into the section to which the leg is pivoted, said brace adapted to be extended to project across the sections to engage a leg on the other section to brace the same, spaced seats, supports for the seats, means connecting the seats, and means carried by the connecting means to engage said legs to support the table.

J OSETH VAGHI. 

